ed Gwyn, laughing. "But I say,
father, what were you going to say about my being a Tyre and Sidonian?"

"Eh? Oh! That if you found tin in some gully on the surface, wouldn't
you dig down to find it where it was richer?"

"Can't dig through granite," said Gwyn.

"Well, chip out the stone, and by degrees form a deep mine."

"Yes, I suppose I should, father."

"Of course it's impossible to prove how old the mine is, but it is in
all probability very ancient."

"But it's only a deep hole, is it, father?"

"I cannot say. I never heard of its being explored; but there it is."

"I've explored it sometimes by sending a big stone down, so as to hear
it rumble and echo."

"Yes, and I daresay hundreds of mischievous boys before you have done
the same."

"Why was it called the Ydoll mine, father?"

"I cannot say, Gwyn. Some old Celtic name, or a corruption. It has
always been called so, as far as I could trace when I bought the land;
and there it is, and there let it remain in peace."

"If you please, my dear," said Mrs Pendarve. "Will you have some more
coffee and bread and butter, Gwyn?"

The boy shook his head, for there are limits even to a seaside appetite.

"Wonderful!" said the Colonel.

"What is, my dear?" said Mrs Pendarve.

"Gwyn has had enough for once. Oh, and, by the way, I have had quite
enough of that dog. If ever I find him scratching and tearing my garden
about again, I'll pepper him with shot."

The boy smiled and looked at his mother.

"Oh, you may laugh, sir, at your foolish, indulgent father. I don't
know what I could have been about to let you keep him. What do you want
with a great collie?"

"He's such a companion, father; and see how clever he is after rabbits!"

"Matter of opinion," said the Colonel. "I don't suppose the rabbits
think so. Well, mind this: I will not have him tearing about among my
young fruit trees."

CHAPTER TWO.

A DEEP INVESTIGATION.

Breakfast ended, Gwyn went straight off to the yard with half a fish and
some bread; but before he came in sight, there was the rattle of a
chain, a burst of barking, and a handsome collie dog, with long silky
ears and a magnificent frill of thick hair about his neck, stood upon
hind-legs at the full extent of the chain, and tried hard to strangle
himself with his collar.

Then there was a burst of frantic yelps and whines, a kind of dance was
performed as the boy approached with the dog's breakfast, and then